Relationships of
Vertebrate Animals
to this Plant:
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Betula lenta (Sweet Birch) [Betulaceae]
(observations are from DeGraaf, Johnson et al., and Myers et al.)
Birds
Accipitridae: Buteo lineatus (Red-shouldered Hawk) [uses this tree for protective cover & nesting sites] DGr2002; Anatidae: Aix sponsa (Wood Duck) [feeds on the seeds] DGr2002, Anas crecca carolinensis (Green-winged Teal) [feeds on the seeds] DGr2002; Corvidae: Cyanocitta cristata (Blue Jay) [feeds on the seeds & uses this tree for protective cover] DGr2002; Emberizidae: Junco hyemalis (Dark-eyed Junco) [feeds on the seeds] DGr2002; Fringillidae: Spinus pinus (Pine Siskin) [feeds on the seeds as a preferred source of food & uses this tree for protective cover] DGr2002, Spinus tristis (American Goldfinch) [feeds on the seeds & buds as preferred sources of food & uses this tree for protective cover] DGr2002; Paridae: Baeolophus bicolor (Tufted Titmouse) [feeds on the seeds & uses this tree for protective cover] DGr2002; Phasianidae: Bonasa umbellus (Ruffed Grouse) [feeds on the seeds & buds as preferred sources of food] DGr2002, Meleagris gallopavo (Wild Turkey) [feeds on the seeds] DGr2002, Phasianus colchicus (Ring-necked Pheasant) [feeds on the seeds] DGr2002; Picidae: Sphyrapicus varius (Yellow-bellied Sapsucker) [feeds on the tree sap & uses this tree for protective cover & nesting sites in cavities] DGr2002
Mammals
Cervidae: Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) [14% of deer droppings contained viable seeds of this tree in New York] Myr2004; Vespertilionidae: Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Long-eared Bat) [this tree was not used by maternal colonies for summer roost sites in central Appalachia] Jhn2009